Silk Garment Care: How to Clean Silk at Home

Wash silk in a washing machine

You can wash silk in a washing machine. Here’s how: 
 

• Keep the fabric safe: By turning your silk garments or linens inside out before cleaning, you’ll protect the visible side of the fabric from friction and potential damage.  
• Use a delicates bag: Put your silk items in a delicates bag, preferably also made out of silk before placing them in the machine. This helps prevent snagging or tangling. 
• Load carefully: Avoid overloading your washing machine with other items as this can tangle, stretch, or agitate your silk pieces, even if you've put them in a delicates bag. 
• Use cold water: Use a cold wash setting to prevent your items from shrinking and preserve the natural sheen of the silk. If there’s no advice on the label, try 30oC.
•  Remove quickly: Once your wash cycle has finished, remove your silk items from the machine as quickly as you can to prevent creasing. 
• Absorb excess moisture: Lay your silk pieces flat on a clean towel. Then, roll them up in the towel and gently press down to remove any excess water. 

Hand washing silk

You can hand wash silk in the sink or bath. Here’s what you need to do: 
 

• Prepare the washing area: Fill a clean bowl or sink with cool water so that there’s enough water to fully submerge your garment, sheet, or pillowcase. 
• Add detergent: Add a few drops of silk detergent and gently stir the water to disperse it evenly in the cool water. 
• Soak the garment: Put your silk garments or linens in the water and let it soak for about three minutes. This gives your detergent time to work its magic on the fabric. 
• Gently agitate: After soaking, gently swirl the fabric around in the water to help loosen any dirt or impurities. Don’t scrub or wring your silk items. 
• Rinse thoroughly: Take the silk pieces out of the bowl or sink. Then, rinse it with cold running water until all the soap is washed out and the water runs clear. 
• Press out water gently: Lay your silk items on a clean, absorbent towel. Roll up the towel with the silk inside to gently press out excess water. 
  

How to Clean a Stain on Silk

You can get a stain out of silk but it’s harder than with other fabrics.  

This is how you remove stains from silk: 
 

• Don’t delay: If you can, start treating the stain as soon as you spot it. That’s because they’re a lot harder to remove when they dry in.  
• Start blotting: Find a clean cloth, paper towel or preferably a clean white tool and blot the stained area with it. Don’t rub the stain though as that will spread it. 
• Create a formula: Create your own gentle detergent by adding lemon juice or white vinegar to a small amount of lukewarm water.  
• Test your formula: Apply your homemade detergent to an inconspicuous area of your garment or linen, like the hem. This is to check it won’t discolour or damage the fabric. 
• Apply your formula: Use a cotton ball or clean white fabric cloth to dab the back of the stained area with your solution. 
• Rinse and wash: Once you’ve finished, rinse the stained area with cool water and wash your garment in a silk-friendly detergent. 
  

To dry silk, follow these expert tips: 
 

• No wringing: Avoid wringing or twisting your silk garment, sheets, or pillowcases as this can shrink the fabric and damage its gentle fibres. 
• No sunlight: Always dry your silk items in the shade as exposure to sunlight can do real damage to the fabric and colouring. 
• Be gentle: Place your silk pieces on a clean and absorbent towel. Roll the towel, gently pressing to remove excess water. Do it again with another dry towel if the garment is still too wet. 
• Use a drying rack: After pressing out excess water, place your silk garment or linen flat on a drying rack. Avoid using clothes pegs, as they can leave marks on the fabric. 
• Use a hanger: Use a padded hanger if you’re drying silk blouses and dresses to help them keep their shape. Hanging them over a bathtub will allow them to drip dry. 
• Keep an eye out: Silk dries really fast, often within an hour of being washed. Make sure you don’t leave it to dry for too long as this can damage the fabric. 
  

Can you tumble-dry silk? 

You can’t tumble dry silk because the heat from tumble drying can really damage its delicate fibres. 

If you have to use a dryer, put the machine on its ‘air’ setting for 15 minutes. Don’t add any dryer balls or fabric sheets while your garment or linen is in the drum.   

Even with these precautions, tumble-drying silk is not advisable. 

Silk creases quite easily but thankfully, you can iron it without causing any damage.  

Here’s how you can get creases out of silk using your iron: 
 

• Check your temperature: Before you start ironing your silk garments, scarves or bedding, find the recommended temperature for silk in the iron’s manual. 
• When to iron: It’s easier to smooth out creases when your silk piece is slightly damp. Make sure you let your iron preheat fully before you start though.  
• Lay out your silk: Lay your garment or linen flat with the inside facing down on your ironing board. This will prevent new creases from forming. 
• Use a cotton sheet: To provide extra protection to your silk items when ironing, find a clean, thin cotton sheet to cover your garment to use as a heat barrier. 
• Iron carefully: Don’t press down on your fabric, even with the cotton sheet over it. Make deliberate, long strokes along the length of your garment or linen.  
• Cool down: Pause your ironing if your time gets too hot. Before putting on silk clothes, let them cool for 15 minutes. Hang them until they’re fully dry on a padded hanger.